Shin Kishida (17 October 1939 – 28 December 1982) was a

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

television, film, and stage actor.

Biography

Shin Kishida was born at Kawakita General Hospital in Asagaya, Suginami,

Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.468 ...

. His uncle was playwright

Kunio Kishida Kunio Kishida (岸田國士, Kishida Kunio, 2 November 1890 – 5 March 1954) was a Japanese playwright, dramatist, novelist, lecturer, acting coach, theatre critic, translator, and proponent of Shingeki ("New Theatre"/”New Drama"). Kishida sp ...

, and actress

Kyōko Kishida was a Japanese actress, voice actress, and writer of children's books. Career Kishida became an actress in 1950, and starred in a Yukio Mishima production of the 1960 film ''Salome''. Her film and television drama credits number in the hundreds. ...

and children's author

Eriko Kishida is a feminine/neutral Japanese given name. Possible writings Eriko can be written using different kanji characters and can mean: *恵梨子, "blessing, pear, child" *恵理子, "blessing, reason, child" *絵里子, "picture, hometown, child" *絵 ...

were his first cousins. He lived in Nakano until the age of five. In 1944 he enrolled in Yumoto Elementary School in

Hakone is a List of towns in Japan, town in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. , the town had a population of 11,293 and a population density of 122 persons per km². The total area of the town is . The town is a popular tourist destination due to its many o ...

Kanagawa is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Kanagawa Prefecture is the List of Japanese prefectures by population, second-most populous prefecture of Japan at 9,221,129 (1 April 2022) and third-dens ...

, where he was sent to live as part of a wartime evacuation of children from major cities. He returned to Tokyo in 1947, and transferred to Kudan Elementary School,

Chiyoda, Tokyo is a special ward located in central Tokyo, Japan. It is known as Chiyoda City in English.Profile< ...

. After graduating from Kojimachi Junior High School (Kojimachi Chugakko, where he became friends with future politician Koichi Kato) and Kaijo High School (Kaijo Koko), he took a year off from his studies before entering the English literature department of

Hosei University is a private university based in Tokyo, Japan. The university originated in a school of law, Tōkyō Hōgakusha (, i.e. Tokyo association of law), established in 1880, and the following year renamed Tōkyō Hōgakkō (, i.e. Tokyo school of law ...

. However, he dropped out in his second year after deciding to become an actor.

Debut

In 1961 Kishida joined a drama study group attached to the Bungakuza theater troupe. The following year he joined Bungakuza as an apprentice and became a full-fledged member in 1965, but left in early 1966 to form the theater group Rokugatsu Gekijo (June Theater) with his wife Chiho Yuki,

Katsumi Matsumura is a Japanese volleyball player and Olympic champion. She was a major player to help Japanese women's national volleyball team to dominate the World in 1962-67 by winning 1962 FIVB Women's World Championship, 1964 Tokyo Olympic Game ...

and others, and subsequently concentrated on film and television work. Kishida may be best-remembered for playing Hammer-esque vampires in

Toho is a Japanese film, theatre production and distribution company. It has its headquarters in Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Osaka-based Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group. Outside of Japan, it is best known as the producer ...

's ''Bloodthirsty'' film series. Many Japanese fans regard Kishida and

Christopher Lee Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee (27 May 1922 – 7 June 2015) was an English actor and singer. In a long career spanning more than 60 years, Lee often portrayed villains, and appeared as Count Dracula in seven Hammer Horror films, ultimat ...

as the quintessential screen vampires. Coincidentally, Kishida appeared alongside

Shigeru Amachi was a Japanese actor. He appeared in more than 120 films from 1953 to 1984. Career Amachi joined the Shintoho studio as one of its "New Face" actors of 1951 and established himself in action and jidaigeki films. He gained fame for the nihilist ...

, a pioneer of the Japanese vampire role in

Nobuo Nakagawa was a Japanese film director, most famous for the stylized, folk tale-influenced horror films he made in the 1950s and 1960s. Career Born in Kyoto, Nakagawa was early on influenced by proletarian literature and wrote amateur film reviews to th ...

's ''The Lady Vampire'' (''Onna Kyuketsuki'', 1959) on the 6th episode of the television period drama ''Mushuku Samurai'' in 1973. Kishida appeared in several works by

Tsuburaya Productions is a Japanese special effects studio founded in 1963 by special effects wizard Eiji Tsuburaya and was run by his family, until October 2007, when the family sold the company to advertising agency TYO Inc. The studio is best known for producin ...

including ''

Return of Ultraman is a Japanese ''tokusatsu'' science fiction television series produced by Tsuburaya Productions. The fourth entry in the Ultra series, the series aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System from April 2, 1971, to March 31, 1972. It became successful enou ...

'' (''Kaette kita Urutoraman'') and '' Operation: Mystery!'' (''Kaiki Daisakusen''). He wrote screenplays under the name Shin Akekawa, such as episode 35 of ''Return of Ultraman'', "Zankoku! Hikari Kaiju Purizuma". Kishida's design for the light-inspired Prisma monster is widely regarded as the most beautiful of the second wave of ''

Ultra Series ''Ultraman'', also known as the , is the collective name for all media produced by Tsuburaya Productions featuring Ultraman, his many brethren, and the myriad monsters. Debuting with '' Ultra Q'' and then ''Ultraman'' in 1966, the series is o ...

'' monsters, and features in many books on the subject. As Shin Kishida he also wrote a script for episode 12 of the Tokusatsu show ''

Fireman A firefighter is a first responder and rescuer extensively trained in firefighting, primarily to extinguish hazardous fires that threaten life, property, and the environment as well as to rescue people and in some cases or jurisdictions also ...

''. Kishida also worked frequently with director

Kihachi Okamoto was a Japanese film director who worked in several different genres. Career Born in Yonago, Okamoto attended Meiji University, but was drafted into the Air Force 1943 and entered World War II, an experience that had a profound effect on his l ...

, and was a key figure in his latter works. His sidesplitting portrayal of a garish suit-wearing enemy yakuza captain in '' Dainamaito Dondon'', and his turn as an eerie secretary to a political mastermind in '' Blue Christmas'' (the epitome of his stated desire to appear in brief supporting roles that change the tone of an entire film) are some of his most representative work. He also formed a celebrated partnership with

Akio Jissoji (March 29, 1937 – November 29, 2006) was a Japanese television and film director best known outside Japan for the 1960s TV series ''Ultraman'' and ''Ultraseven'', as well as for his auteur erotic ATG-produced Buddhist trilogy , , and . ...

, a former colleague from his days working for Tsuburaya. His 1977 film, ''Utamaro's World'' (''Utamaro: Yume to Shiriseba''), was probably frequent Kishida's only lead role in a major production (although he does not headline the film), and was screened at the

Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films o ...

. From time to time, he deliberately shaved his head and wore a wig for his roles in the television series '' Kizudarake no Tenshi'' and ''

Tantei Monogatari , or ''Detective Story'', is an action Japanese TV series starring Yūsaku Matsuda that was originally broadcast on Nippon TV in 27 forty-five-minute episodes from September 18, 1979 to April 1, 1980. The show had various directors including T ...

''. In a guest appearance as "Phantom Thief #103" on the 13th episode of ''Tantei Monogatari'', he engages in a fencing duel with star

Yūsaku Matsuda was a Japanese actor. In Japan, he was best known for roles in action films and a variety of television series in the 1970s as well as a switch to a wider range of roles in the 1980s. His final film appearance was as the villain Sato in Ridley ...

towards the end. A thrust by Matsuda's character connects with the Phantom Thief's hair, ripping off his wig and exposing his bald pate with the number 103 neatly written on it.

Personal life

In 1964 Kishida married actress Chiho Yūki (who later changed her stage name to Kiki Kirin). They divorced in 1968. Kishida later remarried, but this second marriage also ended in divorce.

Influence

A regular in the works of directors

and

Tatsumi Kumashiro was a Japanese film director known for his critically acclaimed, award-winning '' Roman Porno'' films, such as ''Ichijo's Wet Lust'' (1972) and '' The Woman with Red Hair'' (1979). He was the most highly acclaimed director of the early Nikkatsu ...

, Kishida was revered by many actors including Kenichi Hagiwara,

Yutaka Mizutani is a Japanese actor and singer. He was born on July 14, 1952, in Ashibetsu, Hokkaidō, Japan. Biography Mizutani was raised from the age of eight in Tokyo, Japan. He started acting at the age of twelve, when a neighbor introduced him to a childr ...

and

. Fellow Bungakuza actor Daigo Kusano was his lifelong best friend.

Shintaro Katsu was a Japanese actor, singer, and filmmaker. He is known for starring in the ''Akumyo'' series, the ''Hoodlum Soldier'' series, and the ''Zatoichi'' series. Life and career Born Toshio Okumura (奥村利夫 ''Okumura Toshio'') on 29 Novemb ...

also praised him highly for his talent and character, and appeared alongside him in several films. Kishida also worked as an instructor for Katsu's acting school "Katsu Academy". One of his students was

Kazuki Kosakai (born January 3, 1956) is a Japanese comedian and actor from Ichikawa, Chiba. He is attached to Asaikikaku. Roles Television programs Television drama *'' Sērā Fukudōri'' (1986) (Tanaka-sensei) *''Furuhata Ninzaburō'' (1994) (Shigeo Sakomizu ...

. Actor Asao Kobayashi, who co-starred with Kishida in ''

Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan is the fifth series in Toei Company's ''Super Sentai'' tokusatsu metaseries. It was broadcast from February 7, 1981, to January 30, 1982, replacing '' Denshi Sentai Denjiman'' and was replaced by ''Dai Sentai Goggle-V''. The program first ''Sup ...

'', was so overcome by the shock of Kishida's sudden death that he took a hiatus from acting and left show business permanently a few years later.

Death

On 28 December 1982, Kishida died of esophageal cancer, aged 43. Shortly after news of Kishida's death, television reruns of his final

tokusatsu is a Japanese term for live action film or television drama that makes heavy use of practical special effects. ''Tokusatsu'' entertainment mainly refers to science fiction, War film, war, fantasy, or Horror film, horror media featuring such te ...

series "Solar Squadron Sun Vulcan" began in the Tokyo area, and his first appearance in the opening episode of the series was accompanied by a memorial message.

Filmography

*''Hôrô-ki'' (1962) *''A Story Written with Water'' (1965) - Takao Matsutani *''Shayô no omokage'' (1967) - Keiji Taniyama *''

Kill! is a 1968 Japanese comedy- chambara film directed by Kihachi Okamoto. The film had a screenplay written by Akira Murao and Okamoto, and is based on the story ''Torideyama no jushichinichi'' () in '' Yamamoto Shugoro zenshu'' (1964) by Shūgor� ...

'' (1968) - Jurota Arao *''Sogeki'' (1968) *''Dankon'' (1969) *'' Red Lion'' (1969) - Secretary Sokichi *''Hakucyu no syugeki'' (1970) *''

Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo is a 1970 Japanese drama film directed by Kihachi Okamoto. It is the 20th of a series of films featuring the blind swordsman Zatoichi. The main character is based on a fictional character, a blind masseur and swordmaster. He was created by nov ...

'' (1970) - Kuzuryu *''

Onna Gokuakuchō also known as Naked Ambition is a 1970 Japanese-Malaysian jidaigeki noir film directed by Kazuo Ikehiro. It is based on Jun'ichirō Tanizaki's novel ''Kyōfu Jidai''. All the characters in the film are villains. Kazuo Ikehiro said the film ...

'' (1970) *''Genkai yûkyôden: Yabure kabure'' (1970) - Gisaburo Sakurai *''Gekido no showashi 'Gunbatsu (1970) - (uncredited) *''Zenigeba'' (1970) *''Kitsune no kureta akanbô'' (1971) - Einoshin Katsuya *''

Battle of Okinawa The , codenamed Operation Iceberg, was a major battle of the Pacific War fought on the island of Okinawa by United States Army (USA) and United States Marine Corps (USMC) forces against the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA). The initial invasion of ...

'' (1971) *''Lake of Dracula'' (1971) - The Vampire *''Gekido no showashi: Okinawa kessen'' (1971) *''Mandara'' (1971) *''

Inn of Evil is a 1971 Japanese film directed by Masaki Kobayashi. The film set during the Tokugawa Shogunate and is about a tavern in Edo which smugglers use as a base of operations. The film was adapted from the novel ''Fukagawa anarakutei'' () by Shugoro ...

'' (1971) - Yoshinosuke *''

The Return of Ultraman is a Japanese ''tokusatsu'' science fiction television series produced by Tsuburaya Productions. The fourth entry in the Ultra series, the series aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System from April 2, 1971, to March 31, 1972. It became successful eno ...

'' (1971, TV Series) - Ken Sakata *''Uta'' (1972) *''Hyaku-nin no Daibôken'' (1972) *''Hyakuman-nin no dai-gasshô'' (1972) - Miyahara *'' Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx'' (1972) - Kuruma Hidari *''Nippon sanjûshi: Osaraba Tokyo no maki'' (1972) - Morikawa *'' Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril'' (1972) - Kozuka Enki *''Kôkôsei burai hikae'' (1972) - Muraki *''

'' (1973, TV series) - Dr. Saburo Mizushima *''Hanzo the Razor: The Snare'' (1973) *''Kaseki no Mori'' (1973) *''Oniwaban'' (1974) - Abbot Genkai *''

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla is a 1974 Japanese Kaiju, ''kaiju'' film directed by Jun Fukuda, with special effects by Teruyoshi Nakano. Distributed by Toho and produced under their effects subsidiary Toho–Eizo, it is the 14th film of the Godzilla (franchise), ''Godzilla ...

'' (1974) - Interpol Agent Nanbara *''Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance'' (1974) - Seishiro Kikui *''Evil of Dracula'' (1974) - The Principal *''Karafuto 1945 Summer Hyosetsu no mon'' (1974) *''Aoba shigereru'' (1974) *''Asaki yumemishi'' (1974) *''Lost love: abura jigoku'' (1974) *''Kushi no hi'' (1975) - Tabe *''Kurobara shôten'' (1975) - Juzo *''Hatsukoi'' (1975) - Kimura *''Eden no umi'' (1976) - Matsushita *''Zoku ningen kakumei'' (1976) *''Hito goroshi'' (1976) *''Utamaro: Yume to shiriseba'' (1977) - Utamaro *''Sugata Sanshiro'' (1977) *''Shag'' (1978) - Masao Ikeda *''Dainamaito don don'' (1978) - Osamu *'' Blue Christmas'' (1978) *''Hakuchyu no shikaku'' (1979) - Koichi Sumita *''Midare karakuri'' (1979) *''Kindaichi Kosuke no boken'' (1979) - Vampire *''Yomigaeru kinrô'' (1979) - Ishii *''Howaito rabu'' (1979) *''Sûpâ gun redei Wani Bunsho'' (1979) - Tetsuo Ogata / Detective, Mika's Boss *''Eireitachi no oenka: saigo no sôkeisen'' (1979) - Teramoto *''

G.I. Samurai aka ''Time Slip'', is a 1979 Japanese science fiction/ action film focusing on the adventures of a modern-day Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) team that accidentally travels in time to the . The ...

'' (1979) - Naoe Bungo *''Sochô no kubi'' (1979) - Assassin *'' Oretachi wa Tenshi da!'' (1979 TV Series) - episode#5 *''Dôran'' (1980) - Kobayashi *''Tokugawa ichizoku no houkai'' (1980) - Tokugawa Ie-mochi (14th-Sho-Gun) *''

Shogun Assassin ''Shogun Assassin'' is a 1980 ''jidaigeki'' film directed by Robert Houston. ''Shogun Assassin'' was edited and compiled from the first two films in the ''Lone Wolf and Cub'' series, using 12 minutes of the first film, '' Lone Wolf and Cub: Sw ...

'' (1980) - Master of Death *''Hyôryû'' (1981) *''Morning Moon Wa Sozatsu Ni'' (1981) *''Chikagoro naze ka Charusuton'' (1981) *''

'' (1981-1982, TV Series) - Commander Arashiyama *''Conquest'' (1982) - Ichikawa *''

Antarctica Antarctica () is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean, it contains the geographic South Pole. Antarctica is the fifth-largest contine ...

'' (1983) - Kissaten Master

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kishida, Shin 1939 births 1982 deaths Deaths from cancer in Japan Deaths from esophageal cancer Japanese male film actors Japanese male television actors Male actors from Tokyo 20th-century Japanese male actors